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By Sr. Mary B. Galing
The phrase “Woman, behold your son” was spoken by Jesus on the cross, specifically in John 19:26-27. This moment occurs during the crucifixion, where Jesus addresses his mother, Mary, and disciple John, indicating his care and concern for her well-being. Jesus entrusts Mary to John, fulfilling his role as a devoted son, and ensuring her protection after his death. This act symbolizes Jesus’ compassion and his desire to provide for his mother, reflecting his deep love and care for her.
Our God the Father chose a mother to his only begotten son, our Lord Jesus Christ. She is full of grace for bearing the Lord in her womb, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
We have our own mothers, too. But we did not choose her. Jesus chose Mary for us when he said to John, before he died on the cross, “Woman, behold your son; son, behold your mother.” He did not say it otherwise as, “Son, behold your mother; woman, behold your son.” Obviously, we do not choose our mothers for ourselves. The Lord God gave us our own mothers, just as he cared to leave his own mother to John’s care; she became our Blessed Mother too. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
My mother, Lolita, is, to me, the best mother in the world. She is very prayerful, thoughtful, loving and caring. In my early years, her advice served as a guiding light; in fact, it still does. I remember her saying, “Finish your studies to have a better life in the future.” Her earnest prayer and desire for me and my siblings was to make sure that we would be the best we could be. She did this by sending us to school and planting the seed of faith by accompanying us to church every Sunday.
My last vacation in 2025 was remarkable because I spent 15 days with my mother. Along with saying scheduled prayers, she still prays the rosary at midnight and goes to confession weekly when possible.
The Lord took my mother back into his arms last December 4. The number of people who attended her funeral Mass was a testament to the kind of woman she was. This was even more remarkable because she was an only child, without biological siblings. Even to her death, my mother continued to remind us that no one can separate us from the love of God.